The city has created a website[4] that allows people to examine the budget scenario, consider recommendations on how to fix the imbalance and make suggestions — similar to the state’s Backseat Budgeter[5] that allowed people to try to figure out ways to balance Colorado[6]’s budget.

The website launch coincides with the first public town hall meeting 6 tonight[7] at the Exdo Hall, 3545 Larimer St., in which people will be given “clickers” to register their feelings about suggested cuts and changes.

As Hancock says in the video to promote the Delivering Denver’s Future website, the city has had to close budget gaps of $450 million over the past four years through temporary fixes, such as reducing the hours at libraries and recreation centers, eliminating about 400 positions in city government, postponing police and fire recruitment classes and delaying equipment replacement.

“Unless we make long-term fixes to the city’s financial structure, we will be making those types of cuts year after year,” he said.

City officials anticipate another $94 million shortfall in the 2013 budget. Much of that gap will be filled through efforts to help the government become leaner and identifying efficiencies.

But about $30 million of that is a problem that cannot be fixed unless permanent changes are made to the city’s financial structure.

The city has a $30 million gap that is occurring due to falling revenues from sales taxes[8] while at the same time city expenses have risen.

A task force of civic and business leaders met for a year to help the city figure out how to fix the problem, coming up with a list of 29 recommendations, including seeking a mill levy increase and asking residents to pay a fee for trash pickup.